Beautiful Escape Read online

  “Dammit.” I shift into reverse as the drunken man takes another long pull from his bottle.

  I park the car and quickly get out.

  Don’t even stop to think about this or you’ll talk yourself out of it.

  I’m walking with a purpose, my vision clear, mind empty. I pass by the drunk guy and get to the door of her room, and I knock three times in rapid succession before opening it.

  Alexa gives a high-pitched scream and jumps to her feet, before placing a hand on her stomach. “Gavin, you scared me!”

  “Get your backpack,” I tell her. “We’re leaving.”

  “What do you mean? Why?”

  “I mean, you shouldn’t be here, Alexa. This place is a dump and you’re not safe alone in a place like this.”

  “Gavin,” she begins, her cheeks flushing.

  “My apartment’s plenty big enough for you to crash for a minute,” I say. “It’s got a spare bedroom. I mean, it’s my studio right now, but there’s a futon in there…”

  Alexa shakes her head. “I—I really appreciate it but I can’t…I can’t…it would be wrong.”

  “Why would it be wrong, Alexa?” I ask.

  She runs a hand through her long, dark hair. “Gavin, I’m from a very different world.”

  “I know that.”

  She sighs. “You think you know, but you can’t understand.”

  Suddenly I find myself arguing with her, even though I already know this is a bad idea. Why can’t I just leave well enough alone?

  I should just agree with her and turn around and leave.

  “Maybe I don’t understand where you’re from,” I tell her, stepping forward, “but I do know where I’m from. I live in this world, right here. And that’s what you need to be worried about right now, Alexa. You need to think about the present, not the past.”

  She bites her lip as the wheels turn in her mind. “I don’t even know you,” she says, finally. “You’re a man and I’m a woman.”

  “So?” I say, and I have to admit—I like that she’s put it out there.

  She’s attracted to me—I can see it written all over her face.

  “So, it’s wrong. It’s wrong.” She exhales, and I think I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as she is right now.

  “Nothing’s wrong,” I say. “Unless we make it wrong.”

  “That’s not how I was raised.”

  “You’ll have your own room, your own bed, your own space, and you can leave whenever you want to,” I tell her. “But come on, look at this shithole. This is no place for someone like you, Alexa.”

  Her cheeks flush an even deeper shade of red and she begins to smile. “I’m flattered you think so highly of me, Gavin.”

  I scratch the back of my neck. “I just want you to have half a chance to figure things out, that’s all.”

  “Okay, then,” she says, blinking, like she can’t believe what’s happening. “Okay.” She grabs her backpack. “What about the food?”

  “I’ve got better stuff at my apartment,” I tell her, laughing.

  I open the door and she comes out with me, and before I know it¸ we’re in my car again and heading back to my apartment.

  As we drive, neither of us says a lot, but we’re both smiling and I think I know why.

  This is what we wanted, and for now, we’re going to enjoy it.

  You’re in over your head, Brooks.

  My smile momentarily fades, but then I glance over at Alexa, and I think—I don’t care if I’m over my head. She’s worth it.

  She’s worth anything.

  Even as I have the thought, I sense that my resolve will be tested. What I went through during my time in the Middle East will seem like a picnic before this is over.

  It’s like a psychic premonition. My mouth goes dry as my hands reflexively tighten on the steering wheel.

  She’s not telling you the full story.

  She’s lied to you about some very important things.

  I glance over again and Alexa gives me a tentative smile, but then she must read the change in my eyes, as her smile falters.

  Something big is coming.

  I grip the wheel tighter and get ready for the fight of my life.

  THE END OF BEAUTIFUL ESCAPE BOOK 1

  If you enjoyed part 1, please leave us a review and let us know. Book 2 will be coming very soon, so stay tuned for more of Alexa and Gavin’s story!